Real-time implementation of a maximum power point tracking algorithm based on first order sliding mode strategy for photovoltaic power systems

This paper focuses on a maximum power point tracking (MPPT) algorithm based on the first order sliding mode approach. This work is aimed at systems that are fed with a photovoltaic (PV) generator. The main objective is to act on the panel to ensure that the energy collected is always at its maximum. Because a PV panel frequently suffers from non-linearity of its P-V curves, we propose to work with MPPT controllers based on the first order sliding mode approach; indeed, this approach in general is recognized as one of the efficient tools to design robust controllers. It has received much more attention within the last two decades, and many researchers are dealing with this type of robust controller to ensure optimal operating point of a PV system. The proposed MPPT algorithm has been implemented using a DSPACE DSP (digital signal processor) controller. To demonstrate the efficiency and the validity of the developed algorithm in real time, an experimental setup around a boost converter and a resistive load is experimentally studied and successfully implemented. The real-time validation and the experimental results show that the proposed algorithm can effectively improve the efficiency of PV array output under climatic variation and load change. It is a favorable algorithm that is easy to realize.